Seeds of the Heart...

Anyone who knows me very well, knows that I love to make things. I do a little bit of everything. I love the whole creation process and seeing a finished product. My latest "craft" is digital designs. I have made cards in the past, some Christmas gifts and of course playing around with the blog templates for Anna's and Elli's blog. Whatever I am doing, I want to enjoy it. So, I decided, "why not try to make some extra money doing what I like?"

I just, as in today, listed my first items on Etsy.com. Right now, I only have card designs for sale, but will be adding more items in time. The funds, of course, will be going towards adoption expenses. The cards are customizable for any occasion. You can opt to purchase a design and print at a photo finisher of your choice, or I can have the cards printed for you on a heavy matte or glossy cover cardstock with envelopes and shipped directly to you.

If you are in the market, I would love for you to take a look and spread the word. You can get directly to my store by clicking the icon in the right hand column of the blog or go to http://www.seedsoftheheart.etsy.com/

Thanks,
Marcy

Straws & Briefs...

You might be asking yourself how those two items are related or could even be said in the same breath. Well, they are related. They are the two latest milestones for Anna.

If you have a cleft child, then you will share in our delight of Anna being able to use a straw!!! Quite an accomplishment for her. She started having some lip seal while we were playing with straws, suckers, and teaching her how to lick her fingers. That is something that she never did...so when she would get food on her fingers, I actually encouraged her to lick it off vs. using a napkin. It helped with her sensory issues of the mouth as well as forming a seal with her lips. Of course, after mastering this, we began trying to teach her to form some suction...and encouraging the use of a napkin ;-). Rodney takes full credit, and rightfully so, for the straw thing. He worked with her one day and she was "interested" that morning. Finally she was able to get the juice up the straw. I think it frightened her at first, but then she knew she was doing something "new" and she was hooked. It has been very nice to not have to carry a sippy cup that she could use everywhere we went. It may just be a straw to some, but for us HUGE milestone.

Now, I know that she is 3, but we were going no where fast on the whole potty training issue. (One day she will likely hate me for these types of posts) She wasn't interested at all. Even though she loved her Dora and Cinderella undies, she didn't mind one bit just wearing a diaper or pull up and packing her underwear around. But, thank goodness, finally we had a break through and we are all but naps and nighttime potty trained!!!

Carter and Jacob were in diapers together for a little while. Purchasing diapers lasted about 4 1/2 years the first time. When we brought Anna home, Parker was still in diapers/pull-ups for a few months and with Anna in diapers, we have been buying diapers this go round for about 4 1/2 years...that's 9 years of diapers!!! Why didn't we buy stock in those things????

Glad to be finished with diapers..at least we think so ;-)
Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna Mei

On the Positive Side...

Today we mark the positive side of time with Anna. Our "time" with Anna has been positive from day one, but today is the day that she has been with us longer than she was without us. The day that she has been our daughter longer than she was an orphan. Today is the day that living with a family makes up the majority of her life and without a family in an orphanage is not.

We had to love her from afar...

We have been her family since before she was born, no doubt. She was in my heart long before her birth, before her conception, however, she didn't know anything about me. Today, she has known me longer than she was without me and today feels good.

...and now, she loves us up close & personal

Happy to be Anna's family & sending love to Elli,
Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna